WA Permit Practice Test 9

All 20 questions in test 9

Every question below comes from the Washington question bank on this page. Open a question to see the correct answer and the explanation. Nothing here is hidden behind a signup.

1. 1. What information can Washington traffic signs provide besides roadway directions?

   
   1. Only license renewal dates
   2. Traffic rules, hazards, and roadway services
   3. Only vehicle weight ratings
   4. Only private parking prices
   Show answer

   Traffic rules, hazards, and roadway services. The guide groups traffic signs by the information they give road users. In addition to directions, signs can state traffic rules, identify hazards, and show where roadway services are located. License dates, vehicle ratings, and private parking prices are not the purposes described in this passage. Use the sign’s visual cues and wording to determine whether it calls for compliance, caution, navigation, or a service stop.

2. 2. How far from a pedestrian safety zone must you park in Washington?

   1. At least 5 feet
   2. At least 20 feet
   3. At least 50 feet
   4. At least 75 feet
   Show answer

   At least 20 feet. Parking within 20 feet of a pedestrian safety zone is prohibited in Washington. Five feet is the driveway rule, 50 feet is the railroad crossing rule, and 75 feet is the distance from a fire station driveway on the opposite side of the street. Keeping cars back from these zones lets drivers see people waiting to cross. The list also bans parking in an intersection or on a crosswalk.

3. 3. What do the shape, color, symbols, and words on a traffic sign help a driver identify?

   
   1. The type of information the sign provides
   2. The driver’s insurance premium
   3. The vehicle’s engine size
   4. The age of the roadway
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   The type of information the sign provides. Washington uses several visible features to help drivers interpret signs. Shape and color suggest the sign’s category, while symbols and words refine the message. None of those features identifies an engine, an insurance price, or the roadway’s age. Build the habit of looking at the whole sign rather than reacting to one color alone, especially when a warning or regulatory instruction is ahead.

4. 4. How far may you travel in a Washington shared center turn lane?

   1. No farther than 50 feet
   2. No farther than 150 feet
   3. Up to a quarter mile
   4. No farther than 300 feet
   Show answer

   No farther than 300 feet. Washington says you should not travel farther than 300 feet in a shared center lane, and the lane must never be used for passing. It is reserved for left turns in either direction, or U-turns where allowed, so oncoming drivers may use it at the same time. Fifty and 150 feet are shorter than the Washington figure, and a quarter mile is far beyond the rule.

5. 5. How long do alcohol and drug related offenses stay on a Washington driving record?

   1. Three years
   2. Five years
   3. For life
   4. Until age 21
   Show answer

   For life. Washington keeps alcohol and drug related offenses on the driving record for life. Three and five years understate the Washington record rule, which has no expiration date for these offenses. Age 21 matters for the lower BAC and THC limits, but an offense does not drop off at 21. A DUI arrest brings loss of license, heavy fines, criminal penalties, jail and higher insurance rates.

6. 6. A Washington intermediate license holder gets a second traffic violation. What happens?

   1. The license is suspended for 6 months or until age 18, whichever comes first
   2. The current restrictions simply continue until 18
   3. The license is suspended until age 21
   4. Nothing happens until a third violation
   Show answer

   The license is suspended for 6 months or until age 18, whichever comes first. The intermediate license penalty ladder has three steps. A first violation keeps the current restrictions in place until 18. A second violation suspends the license for 6 months or until 18, whichever comes first. A third suspends it until 18. So restrictions continuing is the first step, not the second, and nothing waits for a third violation. Suspension until 21 is not part of the ladder.

7. 7. After an emergency vehicle has passed, how should you reenter traffic?

   1. Signal and reenter in the order you were traveling before
   2. Reverse direction and enter the opposite lane first
   3. Remain stopped until every vehicle on the road has moved
   4. Accelerate past the other stopped vehicles before signaling
   Show answer

   Signal and reenter in the order you were traveling before. After yielding to an emergency vehicle, wait until it has passed before signaling and returning to the roadway. Reenter traffic in the same order the vehicles were traveling before the emergency response arrived. This keeps drivers from cutting across one another or racing to fill an opening. Accelerating past stopped vehicles changes that order, and using the opposite lane creates a separate conflict. Once the emergency vehicle clears, check your surroundings, signal, and merge back according to the original sequence.

8. 8. What does a red arrow mean for movement in the arrow’s direction?

   1. You may turn after slowing without stopping
   2. You cannot go in that direction
   3. You have priority over pedestrians in the crosswalk
   4. You may proceed if the lane beside you is empty
   Show answer

   You cannot go in that direction. A red arrow prohibits movement in the direction it points. Wait for a signal that authorizes the movement rather than treating the empty lane or a nearby signal as permission. Slowing without stopping describes neither the red arrow rule nor a safe response, and a red indication never grants priority over pedestrians. Keep the vehicle behind the applicable stop line, watch for the arrow to change, and then follow the new indication. The arrow’s direction matters, so do not substitute a different lane’s signal.

9. 9. Which exam must be passed before a Washington applicant may take the Driving Skills Exam?

   1. The vision screening only
   2. The vehicle inspection exam
   3. The road test in another state
   4. The Driving Knowledge Exam
   Show answer

   The Driving Knowledge Exam. Washington puts the Driving Knowledge Exam first in the sequence. It checks understanding of the state's rules of the road, and the skills exam follows after that knowledge requirement is met. The vision screening is another licensing step but does not replace the prerequisite. A vehicle inspection is not identified as the gate before the skills exam. Think of the process as knowledge first, then demonstrating the rules behind the wheel.

10. 10. What minimum space does the Washington guide recommend between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead when driving near other vehicles?

    1. At least twice the length of your vehicle
    2. Exactly one vehicle length at all times
    3. A distance measured only by the car behind you
    4. One tire length regardless of speed
    Show answer

    At least twice the length of your vehicle. The guide recommends leaving a distance at least twice the length of your vehicle from the vehicle ahead. This provides room to respond if traffic changes or the lead driver brakes. The one tire length and fixed one vehicle length choices are smaller or unsupported distances, while the car behind you does not determine the space needed ahead. Use the size of your own vehicle as the reference, then leave at least two of those lengths. Increase the margin further when weather, darkness, congestion, or a vulnerable road user reduces your options.

11. 11. When may traffic traveling opposite a stopped school bus continue on a multilane road?

    1. Whenever the opposite traffic has a green light
    2. Only when the bus driver waves vehicles through
    3. When the road has exactly two lanes and no barrier
    4. When there are at least three lanes and a median or barrier separates the directions
    Show answer

    When there are at least three lanes and a median or barrier separates the directions. On a multilane road, drivers behind the school bus must stop when its red lights flash and stop sign extends. Opposing traffic may continue only when there are three or more lanes and the directions are separated by a median or barrier. A green light does not override the bus safety rule, and a bus driver wave is not the stated condition. Exactly two unseparated lanes require stopping for traffic in both directions. Count the lanes and look for the physical divider before deciding whether opposing traffic can proceed.

12. 12. After a collision in Washington, what does the guide say a driver should do first regarding the scene?

    1. Leave immediately if the vehicles can still move
    2. Drive several miles away before calling anyone
    3. Do not drive away; move the vehicle near the site when possible
    4. Wait for another driver to decide whether to stop
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    Do not drive away; move the vehicle near the site when possible. The guide says not to drive away after a collision. If possible, move the vehicle to the side of the road while keeping it near the collision site, and call 911 if anyone is injured or killed. Leaving immediately can prevent assistance, information exchange, and required reporting. Driving far away before calling makes the scene harder for responders to locate, and another driver's decision does not remove your responsibility. Protect people from traffic, use warning devices when available, and follow the next reporting steps once immediate danger is addressed.

13. 13. When may a Washington child move from a booster seat to a regular seat belt under the guide's age and size chart?

    1. At age 4 regardless of belt fit
    2. As soon as the child weighs 40 pounds
    3. When the lap and shoulder belts fit properly, typically between ages 8 and 12
    4. At age 6 even if the shoulder belt crosses the neck
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    When the lap and shoulder belts fit properly, typically between ages 8 and 12. Children age four and older should remain in a car or booster seat until the vehicle lap and shoulder belts fit properly. The guide describes that transition as typically occurring between ages eight and twelve, and its size chart lists four years to 4 feet 9 inches for the booster stage. Age alone does not make a poorly fitting belt safe. A belt should sit correctly across the lap and shoulder, not the stomach or neck. Check fit in the actual vehicle every trip rather than relying on a birthday or weight alone.

14. 14. What must a Washington driver do to get a license back after a suspension or revocation ends?

    1. Take the driving knowledge and skills exams again and pay a reissue fee
    2. Pay the fee only
    3. Wait 30 more days
    4. Nothing, it is restored automatically
    Show answer

    Take the driving knowledge and skills exams again and pay a reissue fee. When you are eligible to get your driver license back, you must take the driving knowledge and skills exams even if you have already taken them, and pay a reissue fee in addition to the usual testing and licensing fees. Applicants under 18 also need a parent or guardian's consent. The retest ensures the driver still meets the standard before privileges resume.

15. 15. When may a driver cross a double solid white line?

    1. Whenever traffic behind is close
    2. Whenever the driver signals for three seconds
    3. Only to pass a slower vehicle
    4. Never, because it is illegal to cross double solid white lines
    Show answer

    Never, because it is illegal to cross double solid white lines. Double solid white lines form a barrier between lanes, and Washington says it is illegal to cross them. Signaling does not create an exception, and neither passing nor pressure from following traffic changes the marking. Wait for a permitted lane change point instead of crossing the barrier. The cue is two solid white lines: stay in the lane, maintain control, and continue until the roadway marking allows a lawful movement.

16. 16. How must a driver respond to a flashing red traffic light in Washington?

    1. Slow down and continue without stopping
    2. Stop fully, then proceed when it is the driver's turn
    3. Accelerate before the signal changes
    4. Treat it as a green arrow
    Show answer

    Stop fully, then proceed when it is the driver's turn. A flashing red traffic light functions as a stop sign. The driver must come to a full stop, then proceed when it is the driver's turn. Merely slowing leaves the required stop incomplete, and acceleration or a green-arrow response ignores the signal's meaning. At the stop, scan for vehicles, pedestrians, and other right-of-way users before moving. A helpful visual cue is the red flash paired with stop-sign behavior: complete the stop first, then continue only when the intersection is safe and the turn order allows it.

17. 17. What does the Washington guide say about snow tires and chains?

    1. They are never required in Washington
    2. Chains may only be used on the rear wheels
    3. Use snow tires or chains when it is required, and chains or studded tires improve winter traction
    4. They are only for trucks
    Show answer

    Use snow tires or chains when it is required, and chains or studded tires improve winter traction. Snowy roads require a larger following distance and dramatically reduced speed, and the guide says to use snow tires or chains when required. During winter months you can improve traction by adding chains or changing to studded tires. Avoid icy roads when possible; if you must drive on them, slow down and leave extra space. Shady spots, overpasses and bridges freeze first.

18. 18. What does the Washington guide say about cutting into a ferry line?

    1. It is allowed with a reservation
    2. It is only discouraged
    3. It is allowed for local residents
    4. It is a traffic offense that can lead to a fine
    Show answer

    It is a traffic offense that can lead to a fine. Washington State Ferries are part of the state's highway network, so all rules of the road apply on the approach and aboard. Follow signs into the designated ferry lane and pull up behind vehicles already in line. Ferry line cutting is a traffic offense that can lead to a fine. Once on board, set the parking brake and follow crew directions.

19. 19. What speed limit applies in a Washington school zone when the school zone limit is in effect?

    1. 20 mph
    2. 15 mph
    3. 25 mph
    4. 35 mph
    Show answer

    20 mph. The guide states that the school zone speed limit is 20 mph because higher speeds increase the risk of fatal crashes. The other numbers may appear on ordinary roads, but they do not match the school zone figure stated here. Signs can clarify when the limit applies, and school activity may continue after regular class hours. The practical cue is to slow before entering the marked area and watch carefully for children near the school or playground. A driver should not wait for a child to appear before reducing speed and attention.

20. 20. At a T-intersection, who normally has the right-of-way?

    
    1. Traffic leaving the road that ends
    2. Traffic on the through road
    3. The vehicle that sounds its horn first
    4. The vehicle that is closest to the center line
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    Traffic on the through road. A T-intersection is formed when one road ends at a through road. The guide notes that passing traffic on the through road has the right-of-way, sometimes reinforced by a yield or stop sign for the ending road. The ending road does not gain priority by arriving first. A horn is a warning device, not a right-of-way grant, and lane position near the center line does not settle the order. Drivers leaving the short road should approach cautiously and yield as required.